Patents Examined by Raymond Barrera
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Patent number: 6069545Abstract: An electrical switch has a set of electrodes mounted on one side of a carrier. The opposite side of the carrier mounts an actuator having a plunger mounted for reciprocating motion. The plunger carries a coupler in the form of magnets. A conductive armature of magnetic material is disposed on the electrode side of the carrier. When the plunger withdraws the coupler magnets from the carrier, the armature is free to fall out of contact with the electrodes. A retention cover maintains the armature in the vicinity of the carrier such that subsequent movement of the coupler proximate the carrier will draw the armature back into contact with the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1999Date of Patent: May 30, 2000Assignee: DuraSwitch Industries, Inc.Inventor: Anthony J. Van Zeeland
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Patent number: 6066998Abstract: An actuator made up of a plurality of actuator elements is provided which actuator provides long travel in one dimension and short travel in five additional dimensions, with each actuator element providing long travel in the one dimension and short travel in at least two additional dimensions. For preferred embodiments, each actuator element includes a suspension core, the long travel being in one linear dimension and each actuator element providing short travel in two additional linear dimensions and at least one rotary dimension.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1996Date of Patent: May 23, 2000Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: David L. Trumper, Lawrence S. Schwartz
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Patent number: 6066999Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes an electromagnet having a yoke and an operating coil supported by the yoke and connectable to a controllable current supply for effecting a current flow through said operating coil. An armature is movable from a first position remote from the pole face of the electromagnet to a second, pole face-engaging position in response to a first electromagnetic force generated by a current flow through the operating coil. A resetting spring is coupled to the armature and opposes the first electromagnetic force. Further, a circuit is provided which is formed of a braking coil supported by the yoke and a switching element having open and closed states. The circuit is closed in the closed state of the switching element and is in the open state of the switching element.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1998Date of Patent: May 23, 2000Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Martin Pischinger
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Patent number: 6067001Abstract: A very flexible method for designing electromagnets which produce an arbitrary magnetic field. The conductors of the magnet can be constrained to an arbitrary surface or volume. The method provides the lowest power (or shortest wire-length) design given constraints on the desired magnetic field and constraints on where the coils can be located with respect to the desired magnetic field. The method begins with establishing a mesh of nodes and current elements connecting the nodes. The mesh can have any 2 or 3 dimensional shape (e.g. a rectangular grid on a cylinder). The magnet conductors can only be located where current elements are defined. A number of target points are established and a desired magnetic field is defined for each target point. Next, a matrix of coefficients is defined which relates the current in each current element with the magnetic field at each target point. Also, a total power expression is defined for the power consumed in the current elements.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1999Date of Patent: May 23, 2000Assignee: The Board Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Hao Xu, Steven M. Conolly
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Patent number: 6067000Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator 10 includes housing structure 12, first and second electromagnets 14 and 16 disposed in spaced relation in the housing structure, an armature 24 mounted for reciprocal movement between the electromagnets, and a spring assembly 11 operatively associated with the armature 24. The spring assembly includes a coil spring 30, a spring retainer 32 carrying the coil spring and being constructed and arranged to contact the armature 24, a spring adjusting member 38 engaged with a bore in the housing structure 12 and engaging the spring 30 so as to control compression of the spring associated with a set position of the armature 24 between the electromagnets. At least one cap screw 50 extends from a surface of the housing structure generally adjacent to the bore. A locking member 56 is engaged with the spring adjusting member 38 and with the cap screw 50.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1999Date of Patent: May 23, 2000Assignee: Siemens Automotive CorporationInventors: Dennis Bulgatz, Timothy S. Roach
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Patent number: 6062140Abstract: A magnetic cylinder for printing plates and the like has an air manifold within the body of the cylinder for applying the force of pressurized air against the plate when mounting the plate onto the cylinder to enable the plate to be accurately registered on the cylinder before it is magnetically latched onto the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1999Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignee: T. D. Wright, Inc.Inventor: David A. McEachern
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Patent number: 6064290Abstract: A homogeneous field electromagnet having at least two coils in each of two regions. One region has a smaller inner radius than the other region so that the magnet is asymmetrical. The magnet has coils with a smaller radius on one side compared to the other side. This provides the benefit of allowing the magnet to be shorter for a given field of view size (compared to a uniform-radius cylindrical magnet). In a preferred embodiment the magnet is short enough so that a patient's heart can be located within the field of view (FOV) while visual access is provided to the patient's face. Specific dimensions are given for the two regions, including lengths, inner radii, and outer radii. The magnet can also include gradient coils and RF electronics for magnetic resonance imaging.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1999Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Hao Xu, Steven Conolly, Bob S. Hu
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Patent number: 6064289Abstract: An electromagnetic starter with an overload relay having magnetic flux shielding is disclosed for use in industrial contactor applications. The starter includes a multi-pole DC controlled contactor which is interlockingly coupled to an overload relay. The overload relay has a simplified interlocking connection to the contactor, which when made, corresponds to an abutting electrical connection between the contactor and the overload relay also being made. The contactor further has a guiding pin that promotes even contact closure within the contactor.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1999Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Christopher J. Wieloch, Kurt von Eckroth, David S. Hunter, Mike T. Little, Jan J. Walker, James A. Becker
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Patent number: 6060971Abstract: The present invention provides a superconducting magnet device for a crystal pulling device comprising a pair of ring-like superconducting coils facing with each other, with the crystal pulling device disposed therebetween, a radiation shield surrounding the superconducting coils, and a vessel surrounding the radiation shield, wherein the vessel on the side facing to the crystal pulling device is made from a nonmagnetic substance, and the vessel on the other side is made from a magnetic substance.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 1999Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Takashi Sasaki, Masanori Arata
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Patent number: 6057750Abstract: A magnet device with double fixing positions for changing the magnetic circuit is provided, and includes an external housing whose inner edge is fitted with a coil The inside of the external housing includes a space for the axial movement of an iron core. The external housing and a positioning cover at the opening end of the housing are made of metal with excellent magnetic conductivity. The iron core is connected to a permanent magnet which is fixed at the inner side of the positioning cover. A drive circuit is provided whereby a positive impulse voltage will be output and the electrical energy is saved in a capacitor when the power is switched on. A discharge current is created to output a negative impulse voltage after the power is switched off, and the positive and the negative impulse voltages serve to make the coil change the direction of the magnetic force by the excitation process, so that a push force or a pull force on the iron core will be created for movement thereof.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1999Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Inventor: Chih-Sheng Sheng
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Patent number: 6054913Abstract: An apparatus for creating and controlling a toroidal magnetic field, and a poloidal magnetic field employs a conductive sheet rolled into a spiral with cut outer legs aligned and bent outwardly toward a position approximately adjacent to corresponding other cut outer legs. Such apparatus is formed by forming a conductive sheet; cutting a first plurality of cut outer legs into the sheet; cutting a second plurality of cut outer legs into the sheet; rolling the conductive sheet into a spiral; and bending outwardly each of the cut outer legs. In an alternative, the apparatus has a conductive tube with each of a first plurality cut outer legs bent outwardly to couple to corresponding ones of a second plurality of cut outer legs.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1997Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: General AtomicsInventor: James A. Leuer
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Patent number: 6052045Abstract: A reed switch package is disclosed that includes a reed switch with at least one electrical signal path. A cylindrical ground shield is provided about the reed switch. Ground terminals are connected to opposing sides of the ground shield so that the ground terminals are on opposing sides of the signal terminal and lie in the same plane. The reed switch resides on a support substrate. An electrically conductive signal via extends through said main body and connects to the signal terminal. Ground vias extend through the main body and respectively connect to the ground terminals. The grounds vias are on opposing sides of the signal via and lie in the same plane as the signal via. The signal and ground via exit at the bottom of the main body and are connected to a circuit via solder balls to provide a compact surface mount package with a controlled impedance environment.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1999Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.Inventor: Mark E. Martich
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Patent number: 6052046Abstract: A two pole circuit breaker having arc fault and ground fault protection circuits, in addition to a standard thermal-magnetic trip units, that is designed to fit in a standard knock-out, three-quarter inch or one-inch, of a circuit breaker load center panel. The circuit breaker is divided into three compartments with two side-by-side compartments housing the electro-magnetic trip mechanism respectively for each pole, and a third compartment in tandem with the other two for housing the electronics associated with the ground fault and arc fault protection circuits. The circuit breaker spans the area allocated to a single knock-out with portions of the electro-magnetic trip compartments seated within the knock-out opening and with the third compartment hidden behind the panel.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 1998Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Ralph Mason Ennis, Thomas Michael Doring
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Patent number: 6043730Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator has an iron core around which a coil is wound; two permanent magnets, the same poles of which are placed on the ends of the core which extend beyond the coil and which have the same direction of polarity; magnetic poles formed on either end of the iron core; a yoke which connects the poles of the magnets opposite those which face the core; and an iron armature which is supported by a fulcrum on the yoke in such a way that it is free to rotate around the fulcrum, and which has on either end a magnetic pole which faces one of the poles of the core.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1996Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Omron CorporationInventors: Kozo Maenishi, Kazuo Tsuboi
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Patent number: 6043729Abstract: A superconductive magnet includes a superconductive coil assembly having a cryogenic vessel, a thermal shield enclosing the cryogenic vessel, and a vacuum enclosure enclosing the thermal shield. The cryogenic vessel, thermal shield and vacuum vessel have annular shells radially spaced apart from one another with reference to a common longitudinal axis and coaxially aligned with the common longitudinal axis. The magnet also includes a tube suspension assembly having a plurality of tubes located between respective ones of the cryogenic vessel, thermal shield and vacuum enclosure. The tubes are axially overlapped and are interconnected with one another and with the cryogenic vessel, thermal shield and vacuum enclosure. One tube has an end forming a sliding joint with the cryogenic vessel that allows both radial and axial movement of the cryogenic vessel relative to the thermal shield and vacuum enclosure during cooldown of the cryogenic vessel from ambient to cryogenic temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, Bruce Campbell Amm, Somanath Nagendra
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Patent number: 6040752Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator has two permanent magnets arranged along their polar axes, with the proximal poles having same polarity. An electromagnet surrounds the two permanent magnets and, when energized, overrides the repulsion between the proximal poles and moves one permanent magnet toward the other fixed magnet. Should the electromagnet fail, the actuator reverts to the unactuated position without need of a spring, gravity and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1998Date of Patent: March 21, 2000Inventor: Jack E. Fisher
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Patent number: 6040750Abstract: A switching device is provided which includes a magnet system having a yoke which is elastically mounted by means of a volute spring. The volute spring permits the yoke to be displaced as far as closure of the magnet system. As a result, it is possible to prevent current overloading of the magnet system coil in the case of a welded break contact of the switching device.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1999Date of Patent: March 21, 2000Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Hans Pfab
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Patent number: 6037853Abstract: A device for displaying the loose coupling between magnetic fields is provided, comprising a first disk having a plurality of magnetic elements attached to the first disk so that the magnetic field of said magnets extend radially from an outer edge of the first disk, a second disk having a plurality of magnetic elements attached to the second disk so that the magnetic field of said magnets extend radially from an outer edge of the second disk so that the magnets on the disks are loosely coupled to each other, the strength of the loose coupling depending on the orientation of the magnets with respect to each other, and a rotatable control member having a magnetic element attached to an end of the control member, the control member magnet being rotated to a first position such that a predetermined pole of the control member magnet is located adjacent to the magnets on said first disk causing a magnetic coupling of the magnet on said control member to the magnets on said first so that loose coupling and the chaoType: GrantFiled: December 18, 1998Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: The New Curiosity Shop Inc.Inventor: Ilan S. Chabay
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Patent number: 6037852Abstract: An inexpensive and simple magnet damping arrangement, in particular for contactors with a.c. solenoids, is to be created. The non-switching magnet yoke of an electromagnet system with magnet coil is damped by a single damping compression spring which is supported on the bobbin of the magnet coil at one end and directly on the magnet yoke at the other end.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1998Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Siemens AGInventor: Hans Pfab
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Patent number: 6034588Abstract: A superconducting current lead is provided, in which a plurality of unit conductors serving as current paths and each formed from a tape-like oxide superconducting wire are disposed on a cylindrical support member 4 so that a tape surface of the superconducting wire material is made parallel with a circumferential direction in a cylindrical coordinate system, and magnetic members 3 are disposed between the plurality of unit conductors.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1998Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignees: Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshinari Ando, Hiroshi Tsuji, Takaaki Isono, Kazuya Hamada, Yukio Yasukawa, Masanobu Nozawa